I was barely breathing once he finished talking, and my thighs were clenched so tight I was in danger of pulling a muscle. I wanted what he had described so badly it was almost a physical pain to say no.

“I can’t go back with you, Lee,” I whispered. “I’m sorry.”

He frowned at my reply, and I realised his hand had moved as he spoke and was now gripping my upper thigh. I shifted away from his touch just as Stu returned from his phone call, glancing between the two of us.

“All done?”

“Yeah,” said Lee, wiping his hands on a napkin. “We’re done. You can go wait in the car.”

Stu nodded and went back out the door. Lee nudged me with his hip, needing me to stand so he could get out. I rose and so did he, brushing past me as he walked up to the counter, pulling his wallet from his back pocket. When he was done paying, I moved to his side, catching him by the elbow and looking up at him.

“If I wasn’t me and you weren’t you, I’d go home with you in heartbeat. You know that, right?” I told him quietly.

For a second he glanced away, then bent his head to reply, his voice husky, “It’s because you’re you and I’m me that we want each other, Karla. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.” Before I could stop him his mouth dipped to mine, and he laid a soft, lingering kiss on my lips. His tongue slipped inside for just a moment, like a promise. Without another word he turned to walk away, and I stood there, my heart trying to beat its way right out of my chest.

“Thanks for breakfast,” I whispered, but he was already gone.

Eight

Two days passed. Forty-eight hours, and about ninety percent of those I spent with Lee on my mind. I was worried about him, especially after seeing the state Steve had left him in. I wanted to know how he was doing, but I was wary of texting, afraid it might give him the wrong impression…or the right one. Anyhow, I was single-mindedly determined to deny myself what I wanted. I was a grown woman, and I could resist my desire to sleep with someone I knew was no good for me.

Right?

It was six o’clock, and I’d just gotten home from a shift when my resistance gave way. My need to touch base with him was almost physical in its urgency, so, pulling my phone from my pocket, I tapped out a quick message.

Karla: How are you feeling?

I’d popped a ready meal in the oven for dinner when my phone pinged with a response.

Lee: Like crap…you should come over and kiss me all better ;-)

I scoffed at his reply.

Karla: You never stop.

Lee: Not with you.

Barely a second went by before he sent another message, and laughter bubbled out of me. In truth, I nearly snorted.

Lee: I want your big hard truncheon, Constable, all sleek and girthy.

Karla: We don’t carry truncheons any more. They’re called batons.

Lee: You’re so good at sexting. I think I just came.

I really did snort then. He could be such a sarcastic little shit at times.

Karla: Can you be serious for a second? I want to know if you’re okay. Did you go see a doctor?

Lee: No doctor. Liam fixed me up. Kid’s got some mad skills with a medi-kit.

Karla: So you’re feeling better, then?

Lee: If I say yes, does that mean you’re not coming over?

Karla: I was never coming over.

Lee: Remember our bet? I still owe you dinner.

Karla: As tempting as that sounds, I don’t think it’s wise.

Lee: How you wound me.

And that was how things progressed between us for the next two weeks. No phone calls, no in person meet-ups, just text messages at random, any time of the day or night. It felt safe, comfortable. If I couldn’t have him in real life, then at least I could have his texts.

Lee: What you up to, Snap?

Karla: Just getting ready for work. I’m on nights again. FML. You?

Lee: Watching Anthony Worrall-Thompson bake lemon cakes and trying to figure out the recipe.

Karla: I’m sorry. I didn’t realise I was texting my grandmother.

Lee: Hahaha! We both know you want my lemon cakes.

Karla: Is that your trick? You lure women into bed with baked goods?

Lee: Pretty much. My milkshakes bring all the girls to the yard, too.

Karla: I’m just glad you didn’t say boys.

Lee: Hey, if I wanted the boys I could get the boys.

I laughed.

Karla: Shut up.

Lee: Don’t be jealous. If you wanted the girls, I bet you could get the girls.

Karla: I don’t want the girls.

Lee: Too bad. There’s got to be some serious amount of licence lickers in your line of work.

Karla: That’s a stereotype.

Lee: What about the sour-faced old bird who was at the warehouse the other week? Now there’s a high wall built to hold back water if I ever saw one.

Oh, my God, was he talking about DI Jennings? It took me a second to get what he was saying and then I burst out laughing, both at his wording and how he described her. She was sour-faced, always looking like she’d just tasted something rotten.

Karla: She’s my superior, and I have no clue about her sexual orientation. I’ve got to go to work now. Talk later.

Lee: Later, Snap.

The next day I got a message with a picture attached. It showed Lee making a kissy duck face into the camera, the gym in the background. I chuckled when I saw it before reading the text below.

Lee: Workin on my selfie skills. What ya think?

Karla: I think it’s disturbing.

Lee: Whaaa? Where am I going wrong?